Marvel Officially Releases New Design and Powers For Its Oldest Superhero
Robert Wood is a writer and editor based out of Cheshire, England. He is the author of 'The False Elephant: and 99 Other Unreasonably Short Stories' - 100 stories, each told in exactly 100 words.
Rob got into comics via Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man and the UK anthology 'The Mighty World of Marvel,' which was running Frank Miller's Daredevil, Classic Hulk and Contest of Champions II.
Prior to journalism, he worked in copywriting and copyedited for Oxford University Press. He is on X as @PinchTwigs and Instagram as roobwoodjourno.
More than 88 years after their debut, Marvel just handed its oldest superhero a major upgrade, complete with a redesigned costume and weapon. Here's everything you need to know about this impressive glow-up.
While the modern Marvel Universe officially began with 1961's Fantastic Four #1, some previously existing characters were folded into official lore, including Captain America, the original Human Torch and Namor the Sub-Mariner.
Now, one of these World War 2 heroes is at the center of their own series, showcasing a major upgrade to take on one of Marvel's most iconic villains...
Namor Debuts New Anti-Magic Upgrade
In the recent Black Panther/Namor: Doomed #2 - from Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Stefano Nesi, Jesus Aburtov and Travis Lanham - Namor the Sub-Mariner gets a magical revamp courtesy of the Scarlet Witch. The series sees Black Panther and Namor team up to investigate demonic attacks on their kingdoms, invading Hell to confront Doctor Doom.
While Jim Hammond's Human Torch is often considered the first Marvel hero, Namor is technically older, appearing in the canceled (but produced) giveaway comic Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 a few months before their shared debut in Marvel Comics #1.
However, before their infernal mission, the unlikely allies call on the Scarlet Witch, who casts a spell to enhance their powers and provide protection against dark magic. The two are given immunity to some of Marvel's darkest forces, while also becoming physically stronger and getting awesome new armor.
The spell grants Namor golden armor including a winged coronet, and arms him with a vicious trident. The two are able to battle their way to Doom, who usurped Mephisto in recent issues of Captain America. However, while Doctor Doom IS killing off any demons that stand against him, he's not the cause of their attacks on Earth. Doom reveals that the infernal forces attacking Atlantis and Wakanda were sent by his new enemy the Kingkiller.
Namor Is Finally Getting Some Respect
This new power-up for Namor is in stark contrast to his treatment in the Ultimate Universe. The recent Ultimates #10 (from Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri) saw Namor killed, stuffed and mounted among a variety of fish by the Grand Skull - his corrupted WWII ally Bucky Barnes.
The move was controversial among some fans, who felt Namor wasn't being paid the respect he deserved as Marvel's oldest hero, but represented how the Maker had used time travel to undermine and deconstruct the Age of Heroes from the very beginning.
Namor's WWII ally the Human Torch got a far more dignified arc, traveling back in time to build a secret society capable of taking on the Maker and becoming the new Vision in the process.
Is Marvel About To Kill Off Namor?
While the Doomed series has so far seen Namor and Black Panther work together, solicit information for upcoming issues confirms they'll be pitted against each other. Indeed, the summary for Doomed #5 states that, "Only one king is going to survive, and Doom will stop at nothing to make sure it's him!"
With neither Black Panther nor Namor seeming to appear in Marvel's upcoming plans, it's possible that this series really will kill off the two heroes. The recent Avengers: Armageddon saw multiple nations across the world pass new laws against superheroes, so it would make sense to take Wakanda and Atlantis off the board (or at least their most iconic representatives) to give this new status quo room to breathe.
Marvel's oldest hero, Namor the Sub-Mariner, was just given a magical upgrade as part of his new mission to Hell. But with Marvel promising that only one of this series' kings will emerge alive, does this upgrade actually set Namor up for a lethal fall?
Black Panther/Namor: Doomed #2 is available now from Marvel Comics.
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